Dylan Carlson whiffed on a bunt at the first pitch he saw on Saturday, trying to beat a shift from the Astros and get on base by “taking what the game was giving me,” he said. The second pitch, he hit way out of Roger Dean Chevrolet for his first long ball of spring.

“Luckily,” Carlson laughed, “I didn't get it down that time.”

His two-run homer in the second inning of what became a 5-2 Grapefruit League win over Houston was the first truly loud moment of Carlson’s spring. He entered the day hitting a modest 6-for-29, but signs of a resurgence began with an RBI triple he hit against the Nationals on Monday, now with four hits and three walks over his past four games.

Both extra-base hits came from the left-handed side of the batter’s box, where Carlson, a switch-hitter, has been focusing with just under two weeks left in camp.

A slow start and quick revival is nothing new for Carlson, who made his Major League debut last season, was sent down amid struggle, then returned anew, slashing .278/.325/.611 in the Cards’ final 12 games, finding himself hitting cleanup by the postseason.

“Those are experiences he can draw from, and he will and has,” said manager Mike Shildt. “And he’s off to, the last couple days, doing a great job for us.”

Shildt has said he values the versatility present at the top of the lineup. Carlson has seen time in the top and bottom half of the batting order this spring, working as one of the major wild cards for Shildt; he could see time hitting as high as second, or provide a punch in the Nos. 6-8 range.

The club holds firm confidence in Carlson, its top prospect, to be the starting right fielder on Opening Day, now with a season’s worth of experience under his belt despite still holding his rookie status. Shildt lauded Carlson’s presence of mind to even think to bunt in that second-inning at-bat, as it’s something the club is yet to dive fully into this spring.

But “we’ll take the homer,” Shildt said.

Latest round of cuts unveiled
The Cardinals announced after Saturday’s win that they sent 10 players to Minor League camp, trimming their roster to 44 players.

Optioned were right-handers Seth Elledge and Angel Rondón, and catchers Ivan Herrera and Ali Sánchez. Ellegde (No. 22 prospect) and Rondón (No. 12) were candidates for the bullpen, while Herrera is the club’s No. 4 prospect, and Sánchez is a defensive-first catching option.

Reassigned to the Minors were right-hander Roel Ramirez, catcher Aaron Antonini, infielders Evan Mendoza (No. 29 prospect) and Delvin Perez, and outfielders Conner Capel and Scott Hurst.

Mikolas pinpoints ailment
Speaking on the Fox Sports Midwest broadcast Saturday for the first time since going down with his right shoulder soreness, Miles Mikolas said the ailment likely flared up from going a little too full-tilt while facing live hitters his first time this spring.

Mikolas, who was coming off a July surgery that kept him out of the 2020 season, said he was amped up to be facing hitters off a mound again but that he may have overcompensated for the missing adrenaline outside a game environment.

“I think I just might have overdid it,” Mikolas said. “Maybe I should have kept one foot on the brake for another live BP or two before I let it go.”

Mikolas resumed playing catch on Wednesday after a week-long shutdown from throwing. He last faced live hitters on Feb. 25, and while he’s been ruled out for at least his first turn in the rotation, he’s hopeful he doesn’t miss many more starts, if any.

“I want to make sure that I've got it knocked out and that when I come back that I can be ready for a full slate of innings and a full rest of the season,” Mikolas said. “I don't see myself missing a whole lot of time.”

Around the horn
• John Nogowski, the 28-year-old rookie trying to force his way onto the Cardinals’ roster, is doing just that. He laced the game-winning two-run single to center field in the seventh inning for RBIs Nos. 9 and 10 this spring, leading the team.

• Right-hander John Gant, looking to at least temporarily fill the rotation spot left vacant by Mikolas, continued to affirm his hold on the spot with five punchouts over five solid innings against Houston. With a pitch count planned around 80 pitches, Gant threw 77 pitches , striking out Jose Altuve thrice.

• Jordan Hicks turned in his most blasé outing of the spring so far -- in a good way. The right-hander completed an inning for the first time in a Grapefruit League outing, needing just 13 pitches for two strikeouts and a flyout. He took a little off the velocity, averaging 98 mph on his sinker with a few flummoxing sliders mixed in, and took the win thanks to Nogowski’s heroics, to boot.

“Really sharp,” Shildt said. “I think he’s been that way.”

• Kwang Hyun Kim (back stiffness) and his bullpen session on Saturday went off as planned, with positive reports for Shildt and the training staff. Next up is likely a simulated game before likely one Grapefruit League appearance ahead of the end of camp.